JACKO, THE WIDEAWAKE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 261, 3 November 1928, Page 24 (Supplement)

JACKO, THE WIDEAWAKE

It was such a very hot afternoon that nearly everybody in the hou-e was having a snooze. The only person who felt at all wideawake was Jacko, and a great nuisance he made of himself. First of all he played the hose on Adolphus, who was dozing in the hammock, and then he went imloors anc worried his mother, who had settled on the sofa for forty winks. “Buzz-buzz.’’ went Jacko. so loudly and persistently that -Mr> Jacko woke up with a start. “I’m sure I heard a bumblebee.’’ she said anxiously. “I <|<, | lO p C hasn’t crawled up my sleeve.” She was just making a search win a there was another ]ou<» “Buzz.” ju»t behind her, an.l there was Jacko grinning from ear to ear! “It’s too bad of you!” exclaimed his mother, “fancy waking m<‘ up like that! No, I do not think you’re funny!’ ’ Jacko beat a hasty retreat. “Nobody appreciates me here,” he said. “I try to brighten up a -lull aft< rnoon, and that’s all the thank- I re-t. I’m off!” Am', off he went —out into tin? meadows. Perhaps I shall fin-1 something going on,” he said hopefully. “Tho farm people can’t all be asleep.” But, as a matter of fact,, most of them were. “Coo! I call it di gusting,” said Jacko. And he tickled one of tho men with a thistle to wake him up. The man did wake up; in fart, he woke up so quickly that Jarko had to run very fast to get out of his way. He breathed a sigh of relief when he was safely over the hedge in a havfield. “A narrow squeak, that!” he said. “Now then, what shall I do next?” He strolled up to a big wagon ot hay which was standing in the middle of the field reaidy to move off. “I suppose the driver is asleep too.” said Jacko. The driver was asleep, and in a very comfortable place. Ho had climbed up on op of tho loaded wagon, and there he was, lying at full length and actually snoring. “He’s sound asleep all right,” said Jacko with a grin. “And I shouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t have a bit of a shock when he wakes up. Now then, here goes!” He took hold of the horse’s bri-110 and away lumbered the wagon across the field. Strangely enough, tho driver didn’t, wake up. not even when there was a loud splash. Jacko had taken the wagon right into the broad stream which ran at the bottom of the meadow!

Of course it meant getting a hit wet. but Jacko didn’t mind that. No sooner were they in mid-stream than tho young rascal unhitched the hor«« and led it away, leaving the wagon where it was. completely marooned. The driver woke up—just five fcponds too late!